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  • Archive for February, 2014

    RECORD YEAR FOR SOTHEBY’S IN 2013 – 2014 EVEN BETTER SO FAR

    Friday, February 28th, 2014
    The Hutton-Mdivani necklace.

    The Hutton-Mdivani necklace.  UPDATE: IT SOLD FOR $27.44 MILLION US

    Sotheby’s reports a record year in 2013 with sales to date in 2014  significantly up on last year.  Consolidated sales grew by 17% to $6.3 billion, the highest total in company history.  Private sales grew by 30% to nearly $1.2 billion, the highest total Sotheby’s has ever recorded in this category, and profitablility increased by 20%.

    At auctions the number of clients from Asia increased by 24%. In 2013 sales more than doubled in Chinese Contemporary Art, Indian & Southeast Asian Art, 20th Century Chinese Art and Jadeite Jewelry.  The number of successful purchases through Sotheby’s BidNow programme grew by 36% last year.

    All of which augurs well for the sale of the world’s greatest jadeite bead necklace which comes in Hong Kong on April 7.  The Hutton-Mdivani necklace is estimated to sell for more than $12.8 million US.

    GUARDI MASTERPIECE AT CHRISTIE’S NEXT JULY

    Thursday, February 27th, 2014
    Francesco Guardi (1712-1793) Venice, the Bacino di San Marco with the Piazzetta and the Doge’s Palace

    Francesco Guardi (1712-1793)
    Venice, the Bacino di San Marco with the Piazzetta and the Doge’s Palace  Courtesy Christie’s Images Ltd., 2014  UPDATE: IT SOLD FOR £9,882,500

    A masterpiece by Francesco Guardi – Venice, the Bacino di San Marco with the Piazzetta and the Doge’s Palace – will be on the market at Christie’s in London in July for the first time in over a century.  From the Baron Henri de Rothschild collection it is estimated at £8-10 million. Executed at the height of his maturity and depicting one of the most celebrated prospects of Venice the caliber of this work is matched by exceptional provenance. Originally in the collection of The Earls of Shaftesbury; it was acquired by Baron James-Edouard de Rothschild (1844-1881) and in turn owned by his daughter Jeanne-Sophie-Henriette, Baronne Léonino (1875-1929) and  her brother Baron Henri-James-Charles-Nathan de Rothschild (1872-1947), from whom it was inherited by the present owners.

    Not seen in public since 1954 (Brussels, Palais des Beaux-Arts, La Peinture Vénitienne), this work will go on a global tour starting with a public view at Christie’s in Paris on March 3 and 4; Moscow on April 12 and 13; New York from  May 2 to 6; Hong Kong from May 22-26  and London from July 5-8.  It is set to become one of the most valuable works by the artist sold at auction.

    Georgina Wilsenach, Head of Old Master & British Paintings at Christie’s London: “We are honoured to present this exquisite view by Francesco Guardi at a moment when appreciation of his art is at an all-time high. Landmark exhibitions of his work in 2012-2013 marked the third centenary of the artist?s birth, including the highly acclaimed exhibitions at the Musée Jacquemart-André in Paris and the Museo Correr in Venice.

    DODO BONE AND CAVE BEAR SKULL AT CHRISTIE’S

    Wednesday, February 26th, 2014

    A resurgence of interest in natural history, climate change and extinction has fuelled the collecting market for natural history.  Christie’s sale of Travel, Science and Natural History in South Kensington on April 10 will feature a very rare Dodo bone and a cave bear skull from the upper Pleistocene era.  Cave bears became extinct in the last Ice Age, Dodo’s in the 1700’s. When Christie’s offered a Dodo bone last year it was the first to come to auction since 1934. It sold for £8,125. Now they have another one.  The rarity of the piece is reflected in the estimate of £10,000-15,000. Cave Bear Skull’s are not as rare as this, but it is becoming much more difficult to trade in them legitimately.

    James Hyslop, Head of Travel, Science and Natural History, Christie’s South Kensington commented: “As an icon of extinction, the dodo is second to none”.

    UPDATE: The sale realised £850,625. The top lot was an ice axe associated with legendary mountaineer George Mallory which sold for £132,100.  An elephant bird egg sold for a world record price of £122,500.

    A rare Dodo bone, expected to realise between £10,000-15,000.  Courtesy Christie's Images Ltd., 2014.

    A rare Dodo bone, expected to realise between £10,000-15,000. Courtesy Christie’s Images Ltd., 2014. UPDATE: THIS WAS UNSOLD

    Cave Bear Skull From the upper Pleistocene, 126,000-12,000 years old (£2,000-3,000).  Courtesy Christie's Images Ltd. 2014.

    Cave Bear Skull
    From the upper Pleistocene, 126,000-12,000 years old (£2,000-3,000). Courtesy Christie’s Images Ltd. 2014.  UPDATE: THIS MADE £2,125

    ANTIQUE FURNITURE AT HEGARTY’S CARRIGALINE SALE

    Wednesday, February 26th, 2014
    An early 19th century rosewood card table (1,600-2,500)

    An early 19th century rosewood card table (1,600-2,500)  UPDATE: THIS WAS UNSOLD

    Antique furniture, contents from Kilmaloda House in Timoleague, will come under the hammer at Hegarty’s auction at Carrigaline Court Hotel in Cork on March 3.  A collection of 18th and 19th century furniture will feature alongside glass, silver and collectibles. Latterly the residence of retired Royal Navy Commander Charles Mosely, Kilmaloda was built by the Beamish brewing family in 1799.  The catalogue will be online shortly.  Here is a small selection.

    An early 20th Maples satinwood display cabinet (3,500-4,500).

    An early 20th century Maples satinwood display cabinet (3,500-4,500).  UPDATE: THIS MADE 3,200

    A 19th century clock with swan neck pediment (2,000-3,000)

    A 19th century clock with swan neck pediment (2,000-3,000)  UPDATE: THIS MADE 2300

    MEMBERS ANNUAL EXHIBITION AT LAVIT GALLERY

    Tuesday, February 25th, 2014

    The  annual members exhibition at the Lavit Gallery in Cork gets underway today.  This is a show of variety with 103 pieces chosen from work submitted by members of the Cork Arts Society. There is a different panel of selectors each year, usually comprised of two artists and a regular visitor to the gallery.  Among those exhibiting are Anne Bologna, Eoin Cassidy, Josef Keys, Damaris Lysaght, Edward Yen Sang, Sabine Weissbach and Terry Fitzgerald. The show runs to March 11. Here is a small selection:

    Una O'Brien - View from Within.

    Una O’Brien – View from Within.

    Margaret O'Sullivan - Minaun.

    Margaret O’Sullivan – Minaun.

    Izabella Clechacka - Eternal.

    Izabella Clechacka – Eternal.

     

    SEMINAL MASTERPIECE BY SANYU AT SOTHEBY’S HONG KONG

    Tuesday, February 25th, 2014
    Sanyu - Potted Chrysanthemums. Oil on masonite.

    Sanyu – Potted Chrysanthemums. Oil on masonite.

    A seminal 1950’s masterpiece by the modern Chinese master Sanyu (1901-1966) comues up at Sotheby’s in Hong Kong on April 5.  Considered a museum quality masterpiece Potted Chyrsanthemums belongs to the artists celebrated Potted Flower series.  It was picked by Sanyu for the Jansonne Triennial Art Exhibition in France in 1958. His paintings are highly prized for their rarity and this one is on the market for the first time since its exhibition appearance over half a century ago.  It is expected to make more than $1.5 million US. The work is more than twice the size of its sister painting sold at Sotheby’s Hong Kong in October 2012 for US$3.96 million.

    One of the first generation of Chinese artists to live in France Sanyu travelled to Paris in 1921 and remained there for the rest of his life.   Sylvie Chen, Head of 20th Century Chinese Art Department, said: “Back in 1992 when collectors started noticing the beauty and prominence of modern Chinese oil paintings, I organised the first solo exhibition for Sanyu at Dimensions Art Gallery in Taipei, which came with the production of an exhibition catalogue – the first ever publication on Sanyu’s works. The exhibition showcased only ten works by Sanyu but was enough to give a glimpse of the essence of Sanyu’s oeuvre for his entire artistic life, so much so that many collectors started acquiring the artist’s works. Over the course of 20 years, Sanyu is now recognised as an esteemed artist in the history of Chinese art, while his works are highly sought-after by connoisseurs.”

    MOST IMPORTANT OLD MASTER DRAWINGS AT AUCTION IN GENERATION

    Monday, February 24th, 2014

    The most important collection of Old Master Drawings at auction in a generation comes up at Christie’s in London, Paris and Amsterdam in 2014-15. The I.Q. van Regteren Altena Collection features works by Rubens, Rembrandt, Goltzius and de Gheyn.  Professor van Regteren Altena (1899-1980) was a distinguished art historian who was head of the Prints and Drawings department at the Rijksmuseum.  There are more than 800 lots in his collection, which presents an incomparable panorama of mostly Dutch and Flemish draughtsmanship from 1550 to 1850.  It is expected to realise more than £10 million.

    The Rijksmuseum announced that the van Regteren Altena heirs have allowed them to make a selection from the collection for acquisition.  The museum chose drawings with a special association with I.Q.van Regteren Altena: a landscape by J. de Gheyn and a group of 46 spectacular watercolours by Joseph Augustus Knip. A further 69 drawings by 19th century Dutch contemporaries of Knip in Italy were also donated by the heirs.  Christie’s will present Part I of the colleciton, including more than 70 Dutch and Flemish drawings from the Renaissance to the Golden Age in London on July 10. Three further auctions will follow the King Street sale. Parts II & IV, dedicated to the Dutch and  Flemish schools, will take place in Amsterdam in December 2014 and May  2015. Part III, including French and Italian drawings, will be sold in Paris in March 2015. Here are some examples to be sold in London in July.

    Rembrandt Harmensz. van Rijn (Leiden 1606-1669 Amsterdam)  A young man leaning on a stick  (£250,000-350,000).

    Rembrandt Harmensz. van Rijn (Leiden 1606-1669 Amsterdam)
    A young man leaning on a stick (£250,000-350,000). Courtesy Christie’s Images Ltd., 2014.  UPDATE: THIS MADE £206,500

    Hendrick Goltzius (Mühlbracht 1558-1617 Haarlem)  Study of a hand  (£300,000-500,000). Courtesy Christie's Images Ltd., 2014.

    Hendrick Goltzius (Mühlbracht 1558-1617 Haarlem)
    Study of a hand (£300,000-500,000). Courtesy Christie’s Images Ltd., 2014. UPDATE: THIS SOLD FOR £2,658,500

    Sir Peter Paul Rubens (Siegen 1577-1640 Antwerp)  Samson and Delilah (recto); Figure studies, probably of soldiers (verso)  (£1.5-2.5 million). Courtesy Christie's Images Ltd., 2014.

    Sir Peter Paul Rubens (Siegen 1577-1640 Antwerp)
    Samson and Delilah (recto); Figure studies, probably of soldiers (verso) (£1.5-2.5 million). Courtesy Christie’s Images Ltd., 2014. UPDATE: THIS MADE £3,218,500

    DOLANS SALE IN LIMERICK ON MARCH 2

    Monday, February 24th, 2014

    THERE will be particular local interest in a watercolour by Cicely O’Brien entitled Caravans, Old Limerick at Dolan’s art and antiques sale at Castletroy Park Hotel on March 2.  Redolent of bygone times it depicts old style horse drawn tinker caravans on wasteland adjacent to Limerick city with tall Georgian buildings in the background. The sale of 245 lots features mostly art with some antique furniture, silver and collectible items.  There is work by Kenneth Webb, Robert Egginton, Charles Harper, Jack Donovan, Manus Walsh, George Gillespie, Arthur Maderson, Mat Grogan, Norman Teeling and many other artists.  The catalogue is online. Here is a small selection:

    Cicely O'Brien - Caravans, Old Limerick (300-400).

    Cicely O’Brien – Caravans, Old Limerick (300-400).  UPDATE: THIS SOLD FOR 325

    Kenneth Webb - Blue Stones, Connemare (2,950-3,250).

    Kenneth Webb – Blue Stones, Connemara (2,950-3,250).  UPDATE: THIS MADE 3,200

    An 18th century oak stool (200-300).

    An 18th century oak stool (200-300).  UPDATE: THIS SOLD FOR 250

    David ffrench le Roy - Cheese and wine (700-900)

    David ffrench le Roy – Cheese and wine (700-900)  UPDATE: THIS MADE 525

    Norman Teeling - Summer light in the drawing room (650-850)

    Norman Teeling – Summer light in the drawing room (650-850)  UPDATE: THIS SOLD FOR 600

    Paul Christopher Flynn - Bowl - 600-800.

    Paul Christopher Flynn – Bowl – (600-800).  UPDATE: THIS MADE 675

    Elizabeth Brophy - In the Meadow (1,000-1,200).

    Elizabeth Brophy – In the Meadow (1,000-1,200).  UPDATE: THIS WAS UNSOLD

    CLOCK IS TICKING ON SEARCH FOR SPONSOR OF IRISH SILVER COLLECTION

    Sunday, February 23rd, 2014
    THE clock is ticking and time is running out in the hunt for a sponsor for a valuable silver collection for the National Museum of Ireland at Collins Barracks, Dublin.  The 107 piece collection, valued at approximately 1.75 million, is available to the museum until February 28.  After that it will be broken up and sold via London on the international market.
    Despite some interest no one has yet emerged to buy it for the nation, despite a process whereby an Irish taxpayer could offset 80 per cent of the value of the purchase.  Meantime the international market is aware of some of the pieces and already lining up to buy them. There are many rarities, pieces of early Irish silver and Irish Provincial silver and the collection is capable of transforming the Irish decorative silver holdings at the National Museum into the best in the world.  A catalogue of the 107 pieces can be seen online on the website of silver dealers L and W Duvallier at www.antiqueirishsilver.com 
    See post on antiquesandartireland.com for Monday, December 23, 2013.
    UPDATE:  Unfortunately no sponsor emerged and the silver is currently being shipped to London where they will go on general sale around St. Patrick’s Day.  There has been plenty of interest from collectors seeking individual pieces.  Most of the best pieces are likely now to end up abroad.
    A Cork coffee pot by Michael McDermott c1780.

    A Cork coffee pot by Michael McDermott c1780.

    An inverted Cork Pear Shaped teapot by Stephen Walshe 1750.

    An inverted Cork Pear Shaped teapot by Stephen Walshe 1750.

    An early George II coffee pot by William Williamson,  1729.

    An early George II coffee pot by William Williamson, 1729.

    A Dublin George II coffee pot by James Warren, 1755.

    A Dublin George II coffee pot by James Warren, 1755.

    ANTIQUE FURNITURE AT MARSHS SALE IN CORK

    Saturday, February 22nd, 2014

    Antique furniture on offer at Marshs sale in Cork on Saturday, March 1 will include a pair of Regency foldover card tables.  From a Cork city collection they are estimated at 6,000 to 8,000.  In austerity driven Ireland estimates for quality antique furniture remain on the low side and there is plenty to attract bargain hunters.  The catalogue is online. Here is a small selection.

    A pair of Regency foldover card tables.

    A pair of Regency foldover card tables. (6,000-8,000).

    A pair of rosewood polescreens.

    A pair of rosewood polescreens.

    killarney box

    Bengal Tiger, Splash by Joan Sharrock.

    Bengal Tiger, Splash by Joan Sharrock.

    A four door breakfront Georgian bookcase is estimated at 2,000-3,000.

    A four door breakfront Georgian bookcase is estimated at 2,000-3,000.